MotoGP | #SpanishGP | Preparados, Listos, Ya at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto!
For the 35th successive year the MotoGP World Championship will roll into the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto. As Yamaha gather momentum on their most dominant opening to a season since 2010, can anyone halt Quartararo’s success?
Since the introduction of the MotoGP class in 2002, there have been 8 winners at the #SpanishGP, just 3 of whom will line up for this weekend’s race. Valentino Rossi, Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo have racked up 11 wins between them over their premier class careers at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto.
The #SpanishGP has been the setting for many iconic moments in motorsport history over the years, including *that* last lap clash between Rossi and Sete Gibernau in 2005. The new kid on the block in 2013, M. Marquez took on the 2012 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo, creating a carbon copy of his childhood hero, Rossi’s iconic last lap dive, ruffling feathers in just his third premier class race!
The 2020 season was blighted by travel restrictions and Grand Prix cancellations, however the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto hosted 2 Grand Prix in 2020. Yamaha’s Quartararo won both the #SpanishGP and the #AndalucíanGP ahead of his now-teammate Maverick Viñales. Yamaha have dominated the opening 3 Grand Prix of the 2021 season, for only the 4th time in history.
Honda’s last win at the #SpanishGP came with M. Marquez in 2019. Marquez finished a heroic 7th at the #PortugueseGP, his first points scored since Valencia 2019. The #PortugueseGP also marked the first time since the #ItalianGP in 2018, that Marquez finished a Grand Prix off the podium.
Ducati’s last podium finish at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto was during the #SpanishGP (Jerez 1) in 2020, with Andrea Dovizioso, who finished 3rd. Ducati Lenovo’s Francesco Bagnaia started the #PortgueseGP from 11th, after having his record breaking pole lap cancelled by the MotoGP Stewards. Bagnaia went on to bag the 3rd podium in his MotoGP career, finishing 2nd in the race.
Alex Rins finished the 2019 #SpanishGP in 2nd, giving Suzuki their best finish at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto. 2020 World Champion Joan Mir finished the #PortuguseGP 3rd, stepping onto the podium for the first time since winning the 2020 #EuropeanGP.
Aprilia’s Aleix Espargaro finished the 2017 #SpanishGP in 7th, which has been their best finish. Last time out at the #PortugueseGP both A. Espargaro and Lorenzo Savadori finished inside the top 15, giving Aprilia their first double points scoring weekend since the #AustrianGP in 2020
KTM’s best finish at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto was achieved by Pol Espargaro, who finished the 2020 #SpanishGP (Jerez 1) in 6th.
Esponsorama Racing’s Enea Bastianini finished the #PortugueseGP in 9th, his best MotoGP finish so far. Pramac Racing’s Jorge Martín was forced to miss the race through injury and is set to miss the next 2 Grand Prix, aiming to return for the #ItalianGP. Bastianini leads the chase for Rookie of the Year, with 18 points, to Martín’s 17 points.
At the #PortugueseGP, for the first time since the 1972 #CzechGP at Brno, 6 manufacturers have finished inside the top 7 (Yamaha, Ducati, Honda, Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia).
Quartararo heads into the #SpanishGP weekend with his 2 wins from last year under his belt, as well as being in the lead of the World Championship. However, 10 riders will line up to start this weekend’s Grand Prix having previously won at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto; Rossi, M. Marquez, Quartararo, P. Espargaro, Viñales, 2020 MotoGP Rookie of the Year Brad Binder, 2020 Moto2 World Champion Bastianini, 2019 Moto2 World Champion Alex Marquez, contender for 2021 Rookie of the Year Luca Marini, and 2014 Moto2 World Champion Tito Rabat, who will be replacing the injured Martín this weekend.
Can anyone halt Quartararo aboard his Monster Energy Yamaha? Will Ducati seal the deal on their maiden win of the 2021 season? Could Rabat do the unthinkable, and spoil the party aboard the Pramac Racing Ducati?
